How a Clearing student is making waves in ocean science
Tsian Deslandes has set up an initiative to encourage more people - and greater diversity - into her subject
Since coming to the University through Clearing in 2019, Tsian Deslandes has thrown herself into uni life and her ocean science course.
She has attended conferences, signed up to be a University student ambassador, and worked in the Clearing call centre every year to help incoming students through the same process she once experienced.
Now her drive has seen her create a new initiative, , to show everyone that they can have a career in marine science ñޓ and itñޙs already having a positive impact internationally.
Iñޙve been fortunate to have some incredible opportunities, and I want others to know they can have them too.
Mermaids Beyond Borders came to me as an idea when I attended the Coastal Futures Conference, which was a large UK ocean conference hosting academics and industry from all over the UK.
I got to network and meet so many amazing people, but I realised there wasnñޙt a huge amount of diversity in the room. Not just in terms of gender or race, but disability too. As a disabled woman ñޓ I have Erbñޙs Palsy, which limits mobility in my arms and shoulders ñޓ I wanted to do something about it, and Mermaids Beyond Borders was born.
Tsian Deslandes
Tsian at the Coastal Futures conference with fellow students, Will and Freya
Tsian at the CEFAS conference
Making an impact
Within just three months, Tsian has established links with organisations worldwide and run projects with international reach, including:
- The Oceanñޙs Love Story: A storytelling campaign launched for World Ocean Day 2025, uplifting ocean-connected voices across cultures and abilities.
- Blue Hands Project (in development): Creating ocean sign language videos to make marine education accessible to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
- Breathe Blue (in planning): Focused on adaptive diving and ocean access for people with disabilities.
- Ocean Bytes: An education and storytelling branch, delivering bite-sized explainers, webinars, and youth-friendly content. She is also working on a podcast called A Love Note to the Islands, spotlighting islander and underrepresented perspectives.
Tsian has also spoken at international conferences ñޓ including MISSiversary, the 5th anniversary event for US-based Minorities in Shark Sciences ñޓ and developed a significant social media following across LinkedIn and Instagram. Sheñޙs in the process of turning Mermaids Beyond Borders into a Community Interest Company.
Itñޙs grown quite quickly and, like any venture, Iñޙm working out exactly what I want to do with it in order for it to have a long and lasting impact.
For me, if just one disabled person, or person from a lower socio-economic background thinks ñޘocean science might be for meñޙ when they wouldnñޙt have before, then thatñޙs amazing.
I still have my own ambitions of working with marine mammals and thatñޙs now expanded to include sharks too. What Iñޙm hoping to do alongside it is ensure the new venture reaches as many people as possible.
The ocean doesnñޙt have borders, so why should we?ñޝ
ñޜñ opens doorsñޝ
Tsianñޙs tenacity was rewarded with the Resilience award at the Beacon Awards hosted by the ñ Studentsñޙ Union.
Her hard work also sees her mentor with widening access initiative Opportunity ñ as well as the ñޘAre we included?ñޙ programme for looked-after children; and she is a mentee in the Universityñޙs careers mentoring scheme, where sheñޙs mentored by Ali Hood, Director of the Shark Trust.
Up next for Tsian is supporting students in the Universityñޙs Clearing call centre, followed by a trip to the Bahamas for fieldwork and research experience through the Universityñޙs Ocean Science programme.
Winning at the 2025 Beacon Awards
Tsian with Professor Suanne Gibson at Opportunity ñ celebration event
All of the support Iñޙve received has been amazing. I didnñޙt think University would be for me, but applied through Clearing and here I am.
Coming to ñ continues to be the best decision I ever made.
ñ opens doors, and I want to help others realise that too.
